My rowenta didn't last long either. I have had a Black and Decker for 9 years now and it works fine and has no broken parts. I iron all the time too.
When I do get another one I will get one with an automatic shut off feature because I have left it plugged in a couple times and forgot about it.

I iron all of my husband's dress shirts, he wears a suit everyday. I use a spray bottle of water instead of the steamer. I also have a Black and Decker... I think.

I press the Collar first, then sleeves, then shirt, then shoulder area.

After my long-suffering Rowenta iron died, I did research for my next iron. I bought this very inexpensive one from Amazon. I sew and use it mainly for pressing, rather than ironing (and yes, there is a difference.) I love this iron. It heats up quickly, it's easy to fill, has a great soleplate and it does have auto shutoff (which is not particularly desireable for pressing while sewing), but it's fine.

Helene

Here is a link that might be useful: Black & Decker iron

That's really funny you would post that iron Helene because when I first read this thread I went and looked at my cart on Amazon - where I keep tons of things for "later" and I too had put this iron in my cart in 2005 for when I buy another one!
Quite a few people didn't like it though ...it must be my human nature that I read all the negative posts first!

Kind of embarassing to admit, but DH does all the ironing and is also very fastidious.

He always swore by Rowenta so when his last one was sputtering, he asked me to hook him up with a new one. I read that they were going down hill but he insisted.

Got the iron home and he tried it and said it was a piece of cr*p. He relented and I bought a Black & Decker for half the price. He's now smiling again. :)

I have a sunbeam that I've had for several years. I LOVE a good steam iron. Steam makes all the difference I think. I rarely iron without using steam.

The Rowentas are heavy irons and they may be one reason they iron so well, but they are pricey and yes, do not have the good reviews they used to.

tina

I haven't had good luck with Rowenta. I thought I was upgrading when my 25 year old Sunbeam died. After a short time with the Rowenta I went back to a Sunbeam. Much cheaper and you can't beat it.

Iron? What's an iron?

;-D

Bumblebeez,

I had put that iron into my 'save for later' stuff, but I finally bought it last year. Some of the negatives were in regard to the little trap door for the water-filler. It seems that some people found it broke easily - but I've had this iron for over a year and have had no problem with it. It's easy to fill and steams 'prodigiously'!!! It's cheap enough that if it breaks down I would have no qualms with replacing it with another one of its kind.

Helene

Don't. That's my recommendation! LOL I have a black and decker now after a series of Rowentas GEs, what evers. I know shop for steam and auto shutoff and price trying to go midrange. I gave up on Rowentas long ago.

Currently using a Rowenta, but the steam leaks in big gobs of water. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong, or have you had these problems. I can't keep a pair of khakis dry long enought to get them pressed.

Also, while we are on the subject of irons, how do you keep spray startch from gooking up on your iron??

Tuesday

Your husband might not go for this, but those no-iron shirts have come a long way. The dress code at my husband's workplace is shirt and tie (coat is optional). We were both reluctant at first, but decided to try the no-irons. You can find them in a lot of price points, but we are very happy with the highest quality in the Stafford brand from J.C. Penney.

Spitfire, Dh has some of those and the no-iron khakis and he still presses them, it is just quicker and he prefers more of the "natural" feel of the untreated. If he wants to spend those last few minutes in the morning ironing instead of in bed, so be it.

Tuesday, when we have had that problem, Dh has cleaned the iron, there was usually either starch or hard water gunked up in the holes. Rowenta even sells a kit for cleaning it. For the starch, the most important thing I have found is to give the fabric a chance to absorb the starch before putting the hot iron on it, otherwise it just burns on the iron. One method I have used with tableclothes is to press it, and when it was hot spray it and smooth the starch into the fabric (with my hand, arm or a plastic hanger) and then press again. Supposedly the heat allows the fabric to absorb the starch better. I also often dilute the starch more than recommended on the bottle to lessen the risk of burnt starch on the iron (which generally ends up staining the clothes).

The problem with this iron (like the last one) was electrical. If we jiggle the cord, we can get it to work for a while. I am setting some dough aside so that when it goes completely caput, I am ready. Thank you for all of the recommendations.